They are when you waste your cap space on a guy you don't need... like Briere.

We needed Briere to replace the goals lost by Ryder moving on. Would you rather have LeBlanc or Thomas in that spot?

Plus it wasn't a cap space issue, there were simply NO #2 calibre d-men available on the UFA market. If you want to trade for one then it will cost cap space PLUS a couple guys like Beaulieu Tinordi McCarron Gallagher. MB isn't willing to pay that.